Sony Cybershot DSC-S600

My professional everyday didgital pocket camera of choice~A REAL WINNER!!!

Accepts AA batteries (2), and has optical viewfinder -- both MUSTS in a take-everywhere compact. Fits easily in packet. The unique SONY interpolative "Trimming" program allows cropping to HIGHER resolution. Interpolation means jaggedy lines are diminished -- and adequate results can be made going even from VGA to 3 Mega. I haven't used 6 Mega at all, because 3 Mega reults have been just fine -- even shooting model tests blown up to 9X12 for top agencies. Note here, too, that flash coverage is really pretty, with MUCH less hot-spot than others I've tried, so you can shoot Beauty and Portrait with fill-flash. A wider-than most 31mm wide-angle really makes a difference. Lens does NOT move appreciably when zooming, which makes discreet photography and start-up much faster. I think short lens-to-sensor distance makes for shaper pictures. Larger-than-most sub-compact lens makes cleaning easier and more effective. VER FAST! No shutter lag and quick recording time. 3 video settiings, including Low-Resolution which makes movies that can actually fit in emails. Nice menu layout, with sensible non-fiddly control. Excellent on-screen focusing readout which shows actual multi-zones where reading is being taken, or spot, or center. Good noise-free results up to 400 ASA. Same layout and programs as larger SONY cameras makes going from this one to another, say DSC-V3 (my Pro compact choice)-- easy. Effective built-in lens-protector. Budget price.

Low resolution screen (85,000 pixels): VGA pix that appear sharp often must sharpened later. Plastic body is somewhat fragile. Slider-switch for Playback-Camera-Video is too small and prone to sticking. USB-out cover is fiddly and not robust. No real manual camera settings -- but nice adjustments in program-mode. No A/V out. Auto-Macro doesn't focus super-close. In-camera sound playback is weak.

Olympus SP-350
Casio Ex-P600
Fuji E900

Sony warranty was used once -- lens cover stopped working. No problems fixing free of charge, but they do charge shipping where I took it (Photo-Tech, NYC), saying it was SONY.